Cycling: Cycling has a great tradition in Belgium. The Wanty – Groupe Gobert team has been part of it for years. The men were not only able to draw attention to themselves with the wild card at the Tour de France.
Wanty - Groupe Gobert 2018: Success spread over many shoulders
Based in Isières, the Wanty – Groupe Gobert team has been doing successful work for years. At the end of a season, the statistics are usually correct without tearing up trees. The focus is seldom on just one driver – rather the entire team. This is how the philosophy has expressed itself in recent months. With 13 wins, 12 second places and 17 third places, the results speak for a successful season. For many points in the ranking could, among other things Timothy Dupont, Yandro Meurisse, Guillaume Martin and Andrea Pasqualon care for. The latter Italian in particular caused a great deal of astonishment in 2018. At the age of 30 he drove his most successful season. In his first Tour de France, he sprinted into the top 10 seven times. Pasqualon won four races over the course of the year.
Looking back on the first half of the season it was a tremendous season for Wanty-Gobert 👏👏👏
📷 @skodatour
📷 @circuitcycliste
📷 @LiegeBastogneL
📷 @LeTour
📷 @TourdeWallonie pic.twitter.com/9MR01R8eaH— Wanty Groupe Gobert (@TeamWantyGobert) 16 November 2018
Transfers: The exits hurt - entrances with question marks
The Wanty – Groupe Gobert team has held back on the transfer carousel. With only four departures and three newcomers, not much has changed within the team – but perhaps something significant. classic hunter William Van Keirsbulck will also be greatly missed by the team, like the talented one DionSmith. However, there are many question marks behind the newcomers. A real guarantee for good races was not obtained. Straight Loic Vlichen in Belgium, however, people still seem to have a lot of confidence. In order to compensate for the departures, however, the professionals remaining in the team have to show even more than before.
| departures | Additions | |
|---|---|---|
| DionSmith (Mitchelton-Scott) | Loic Vlichen (BMC) |
|
| Guillaume Keirsbulck (CCC) | Aime De Gendt (Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise) |
|
| Simone Antonini (unknown) | Alfred De Decker (Trainee) |
|
| Mark McNally (unknown) |
Wanty - Groupe Gobert 2019: Eiking and Martin have to develop further
Due to the painful departures, it will not be easy for the Wanty - Groupe Gobert team to repeat the good years of the past. The newcomers will not be able to close the gap, so the pros remaining in the team will have to step in. The eyes are mainly on the Norwegian Odd Christian Eiking, as well as on the French William Martin. Both are among those riders in the team who are middle-aged and need to make their breakthrough in the coming years. Above all, Guillaume Martin can be trusted to do this. The 25-year-old has hinted at his talent several times, but pundits believe he's capable of a top 10 on a Grand Tour. For these, however, the team must first receive a wildcard, which should not be easy due to the great competition - especially in France.
Que de bons souvenirs… Très heureux que le @TeamWantyGobert joins the @CCETUPES, LE club français de formation.
Such good memories… Very happy to see a partnership between Wanty-Gobert and CC Etupes, THE french development team!#Thank you... @gannatjerome @zimineboris https://t.co/hic4HrlREq
— Guillaume Martin (@GuilmMartin) 30 November 2018